Sahih al-Bukhari #1164
Actions while Praying
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ سَهْلٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ خَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصْلِحُ بَيْنَ بَنِي عَمْرِو بْنِ عَوْفٍ، وَحَانَتِ الصَّلاَةُ، فَجَاءَ بِلاَلٌ أَبَا بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ فَقَالَ حُبِسَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَتَؤُمُّ النَّاسَ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِنْ شِئْتُمْ. فَأَقَامَ بِلاَلٌ الصَّلاَةَ، فَتَقَدَّمَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ فَصَلَّى، فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَمْشِي فِي الصُّفُوفِ يَشُقُّهَا شَقًّا حَتَّى قَامَ فِي الصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ، فَأَخَذَ النَّاسُ بِالتَّصْفِيحِ. قَالَ سَهْلٌ هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا التَّصْفِيحُ هُوَ التَّصْفِيقُ. وَكَانَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ لاَ يَلْتَفِتُ فِي صَلاَتِهِ، فَلَمَّا أَكْثَرُوا الْتَفَتَ فَإِذَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي الصَّفِّ، فَأَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ مَكَانَكَ. فَرَفَعَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يَدَيْهِ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ، ثُمَّ رَجَعَ الْقَهْقَرَى وَرَاءَهُ وَتَقَدَّمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَصَلَّى.
The Prophet (ﷺ) went out to affect a reconciliation between the tribes of Bani `Amr bin `Auf and the time
of the prayer became due; Bilal went to Abu Bakr and said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) is detained. Will you lead
the people in the prayer?" Abu Bakr replied, "Yes, if you wish." So Bilal pronounced the Iqama and
Abu Bakr led the prayer. In the meantime the Prophet (ﷺ) came crossing the rows (of the praying people)
till he stood in the first row and the people started clapping. Abu Bakr never looked hither and thither
during the prayer but when the people clapped too much, he looked back and saw the Prophet (ﷺ) in the
(first) row. The Prophet (ﷺ) waved him to remain at his place, but Abu Bakr raised both his hands and
sent praises to Allah and then retreated and the Prophet (ﷺ) went forward and led the prayer. (See Hadith
No. 295 & 296)
Narrated by Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d:
Context
This hadith illustrates a moment when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was delayed in leading the prayer due to his efforts to reconcile two tribes. Abu Bakr was asked to lead in his absence, demonstrating the importance of community leadership and the flexibility within Islamic practices. The Prophet's (ﷺ) eventual arrival and the people's reaction highlight the respect and eagerness to follow his lead.
Modern Application
In modern contexts, this hadith encourages Muslims to support community leaders and be adaptable in their worship practices. It reminds individuals that leadership can be shared and that the community should come together in prayer, regardless of who is leading.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Prayer and Community because it underscores the significance of communal worship and leadership in prayer.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَآئِفَةٌۭ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا۟ فَلْيَكُونُوا۟ مِن وَرَآئِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَآئِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا۟ فَلْيُصَلُّوا۟ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ ۗ وَدَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُم مَّيْلَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِن كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًۭى مِّن مَّطَرٍ أَوْ كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَن تَضَعُوٓا۟ أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ ۖ وَخُذُوا۟ حِذْرَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابًۭا مُّهِينًۭا
And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
سُورَةُ عَبَسَ
Abasa (He frowned)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
The Prophet frowned and turned away
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
1 ayah
لَّقَد تَّابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُ فِى سَاعَةِ ٱلْعُسْرَةِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا كَادَ يَزِيغُ قُلُوبُ فَرِيقٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِهِمْ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
Allah has already forgiven the Prophet and the Muhajireen and the Ansar who followed him in the hour of difficulty after the hearts of a party of them had almost inclined [to doubt], and then He forgave them. Indeed, He was to them Kind and Merciful.
سُورَةُ مَرۡيَمَ
Maryam (Mary)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَخَرَجَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلْمِحْرَابِ فَأَوْحَىٰٓ إِلَيْهِمْ أَن سَبِّحُوا۟ بُكْرَةًۭ وَعَشِيًّۭا
So he came out to his people from the prayer chamber and signaled to them to exalt [Allah] in the morning and afternoon.
سُورَةُ الجِنِّ
Al-Jinn (The Jinn)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَأَنَّهُۥ لَمَّا قَامَ عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ يَدْعُوهُ كَادُوا۟ يَكُونُونَ عَلَيْهِ لِبَدًۭا
And that when the Servant of Allah stood up supplicating Him, they almost became about him a compacted mass."
Common Words
116 total99 unique13 repeated
من4x
ٱلله4x
طائفة2x
منهم2x
معك2x
وليأخذوا2x
ٱلذين2x
أسلحتكم2x
عليكم2x
إن2x
أن2x
تاب2x
على2x
وإذا1x
كنت1x
فيهم1x
فأقمت1x
لهم1x
ٱلصلوة1x
فلتقم1x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari
This hadith is #1164 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Actions while Praying. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d:.